How we assess companies
These are the five things we examine when we review a gold IRA company. The same questions are asked of every provider we write about, whether or not we have a commercial relationship with it.
Trustworthiness
Ratings and complaint histories with the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance, Trustpilot review volume and distribution, years in business, and any regulatory actions.
- Sources
- BBB, Business Consumer Alliance, Trustpilot, state and federal regulators
Fees & Pricing
The published fee schedule (setup, custodian, storage), whether product pricing is available without a phone call, typical dealer spreads where observable, promotion terms, and how willingly the company puts its numbers in writing.
- Sources
- Company fee pages, custodian schedules, direct enquiry
Products & Storage
Which IRA-eligible metals are offered, custodian choice, depository options including segregated storage, and buyback terms when it's time to sell.
- Sources
- Company product and storage pages, depository operators
Customer Support
Contact channels and hours, how rollovers are handled, whether the sales process pressures or educates, and what customers report about post-sale service — the part of the relationship that lasts decades.
- Sources
- Customer reviews, direct contact, complaint records
Education
The quality and honesty of learning resources: does the company explain risks and costs, or lean on fear? Are resources freely accessible or gated behind marketing funnels?
- Sources
- Company learning centres, investor kits, sales materials
Where the ratings come from
The numerical rating shown on each card, and the order the companies appear in, come from our partner data rather than from the assessment above. The written reviews, the pros and cons and the fee detail are ours. We flag this because a rating you cannot trace is worth less than one you can — read the review, not the number.
Where the data comes from
We use each company's published materials, its profiles with the BBB, the Business Consumer Alliance and Trustpilot, and direct contact with the company where fee schedules aren't public. Facts are re-checked when we update the rankings; the "updated" date on each page reflects the last full review pass. Fees, minimums and promotions change frequently — always confirm current terms with the provider.
How we make money
Some companies pay us a referral fee when you open an account through our links. That revenue funds the site. It never changes a score: compensation can affect which companies appear as partners and the order of promotional placements, but the score and the editorial ranking are set by the rubric above before any commercial consideration. Read our full advertising disclosure.